Gotoh Hardtail Bridge – Black – Steel Saddles – GTC102 (Copy)

Name: Gotoh Hardtail Bridge - Black - Steel Saddles - GTC102 (Copy)
Brand: Gotoh
SKU: 201B-4
Price: 74.00 AUD
Availability: InStock

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Original price was: $85.00.Current price is: $74.00.

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Description
Additional information

Gotoh 201B-4 — 4-String Bass Bridge, 19mm Spacing, Brass Saddles, Chrome (201B-4)

The Gotoh 201B-4 is a cast 4-string bass bridge in chrome finish with brass saddles and standard 19mm (3/4") string spacing — one of the most respected and widely fitted bass bridge designs in the industry. The 201B is the standard fitment on Japanese-made Fender basses and an established upgrade choice for players on Fender-style instruments with bent-steel production bridges. Cast construction, brass saddles, 57mm (2-1/4") overall string spacing, stock spaced mounting holes for direct fitment on standard Fender-pattern bodies, and screws included.

Angkor Music — Cast vs Bent Steel, Why the 201B-4 Is the Standard Upgrade Bridge for Fender-Style Bass

The bass bridge is the component through which all string vibration transfers into the instrument body — the quality of that transfer directly affects sustain and tonal character. Most standard Fender-style production basses, including many Mexican and Indonesian-made instruments, ship with a bent or stamped steel bridge — a simple, lightweight bridge formed from a single piece of folded steel. These bridges are functional and have been used on basses for decades, but they are relatively light in mass and the stamping process produces less precise saddle and plate contact than a cast bridge. The Gotoh 201B-4 is cast — the bridge body is formed by pouring metal into a mould, producing a denser, more rigid structure with more precise dimensional accuracy. More mass in the bridge means more material for string vibration to couple with, producing better sustain and a fuller fundamental tone. The brass saddles specifically contribute tonal density at the string contact point — brass is denser than steel and produces a warmer, more sustained tonal character from the same string vibration. The 201B-4's reputation in the bass community comes from exactly this combination: cast body, brass saddles, precise mounting, and the Gotoh manufacturing quality that makes it the factory choice for Japanese Fender instruments. For Fender-style bass players looking for the most impactful hardware upgrade available without modification, the 201B-4 is consistently the first recommendation. We stock Gotoh hardware at Angkor Music across the guitar and bass range — contact us for fitment advice.

Cast Bridge vs Bent-Steel Bridge — The Practical Difference

Feature	Standard Bent-Steel Bridge	Gotoh 201B-4 Cast Bridge
Construction	Stamped and bent from single steel sheet	Cast — denser, more rigid structure
Body mass	Light — less material for vibration coupling	Greater mass — more complete vibration transfer
Saddles	Typically bent steel	Brass — warmer tone, more sustain at contact point
Dimensional precision	Adequate — stamping process has inherent tolerances	High — casting and machining produces tighter tolerances
Sustain	Standard	Improved — more mass, better coupling to body

19mm Standard Spacing — The Fender-Style Reference

The 19mm (3/4") string spacing of the 201B-4 is the standard spacing used on 4-string Fender-style basses — the same spacing used on Precision Bass and Jazz Bass production instruments. This is the reference measurement for the vast majority of 4-string bass players and the spacing most bass method books, technique guides and playing positions assume. Players upgrading from a standard Fender-style bent-steel bridge will find the 201B-4's string spacing identical to what they are already used to — no adjustment in technique or playing position is required. The 57mm (2-1/4") overall string spacing measures centre-to-centre across the outer strings.

Stock Mounting Holes — Drop-In Replacement

The 201B-4 uses stock-spaced mounting holes matching the standard Fender bass bridge hole pattern. For most standard 4-string Fender-pattern basses — Fender USA, Fender Mexico, Fender Japan, Squier and many similarly-spec'd instruments — the 201B-4 is a direct drop-in replacement. The existing body holes align with the 201B-4's mounting holes, meaning installation requires only removing the existing bridge and fitting the 201B-4 in its place. No new drilling, routing or body modification is required.

Brass Saddles — Tonal Character

The 201B-4's individual saddles are brass — a material choice that affects the tonal character of the bridge in specific ways. Brass is denser than steel and produces a warmer fundamental at the string contact point, with a slightly softer high-frequency response that many bass players find more musical than the brighter character of steel saddles. Individual brass saddles also allow precise intonation adjustment for each string independently — the saddle position can be moved forward or backward to ensure the 12th fret harmonic matches the fretted 12th fret note.

Who Is the Gotoh 201B-4 For?

Fender Precision Bass, Jazz Bass or similarly-spec'd bass players who want to upgrade from a bent-steel production bridge to a cast bridge without modification
Players whose current bent-steel bridge feels loose, imprecise or tonally lacking compared to the instrument's potential
Players who want the Gotoh 201B quality — the same bridge used as standard equipment on Japanese Fender instruments — at an upgrade price
Players seeking more sustain and a warmer fundamental from their existing bass without changing the string spacing or playing feel
Luthiers and repair technicians fitting a quality replacement bridge to Fender-pattern basses

Specifications

SKU	201B-4
Brand	Gotoh
Model	201B-4
Type	4-string bass bridge — cast construction
Finish	Chrome
String Spacing	19mm (3/4") per string
Overall String Spread	57mm (2-1/4")
Saddles	Brass — individual, intonation adjustable
Mounting	Stock-spaced holes — Fender-pattern direct replacement
Includes	Mounting screws
Made	Japan

Expert Advice at Angkor Music

At Angkor Music Melbourne we stock Gotoh hardware across the guitar and bass range. If you want to confirm the 201B-4 will fit your specific bass, contact us with your instrument's make and model before ordering.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Will this fit my Fender Precision or Jazz Bass?
The 201B-4 uses stock-spaced mounting holes that match the standard Fender bass bridge hole pattern. For most standard Precision Bass and Jazz Bass models — Fender USA, Fender Mexico, Fender Japan and Squier — it is a direct drop-in replacement. However Fender has used slightly different specifications across different production periods and models. Measure your existing bridge mounting hole spacing or contact us with your model before ordering to confirm fitment.

What is the difference between 19mm and 17.5mm string spacing?
19mm is the standard Fender-style spacing used on the vast majority of 4-string basses. 17.5mm is a tighter spacing used on some 5-string basses and some import 4-string instruments. The 201B-4 uses 19mm — if your current bass uses 17.5mm spacing, the 201B-4 will change your string spacing and require technique adjustment. If you are unsure of your current spacing, measure the centre-to-centre distance between adjacent strings at the bridge.

Why do brass saddles sound different from steel saddles?
Brass is denser than steel and has a different acoustic resonance. At the string contact point, brass produces a warmer fundamental with a slightly softer high-frequency response compared to steel saddles. The difference is subtle but audible — bass players who find their current bridge sounds bright or thin often find brass saddles produce a more musical, rounded tone from the same strings and bass body.

Is this suitable for a 5-string bass?
No — the 201B-4 is a 4-saddle bridge designed for 4-string basses. A 5-string bass requires a 5-saddle bridge. Gotoh makes the 201B-5 for 5-string instruments — contact us for availability.

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